Tolulope Makinwa

Founder & Executive Director, Muazu Africa | Social Entrepreneur | Policy Advocate | Ecosystem Builder

Tolulope Makinwa is a social entrepreneur who has spent the last few years trying to answer one big question: how do we make entrepreneurship in Africa work for the communities that actually create the value? That question led her to found Muazu Africa in 2022. What started as a tech-driven platform supporting early-stage social enterprises has evolved into an ecosystem development venture focused on rural and underserved markets. At its core, Muazu Africa helps community-based founders move from idea to venture while retaining wealth, jobs, and dignity within their own towns.

Her work sits at the intersection of legislation, markets, and collective social capital. She’s convinced that social enterprises will shape the next wave of decent jobs across the continent, and she’s been building the scaffolding for that future. Through market linkages and policy engagements, she has extended support across Benin Republic, Nigeria, and Rwanda, connecting a meaningful slice of serviceable markets to employment and early-stage investment pathways. She also launched campus hubs in Rwanda, Kenya, Benin Republic, and Togo for the Gen Z entrepreneurs testing their first products and prototypes. These hubs quietly bridge students to angel networks, mentors, and social investment opportunities.

One of her defining milestones is contributing to Nigeria’s first Social Enterprise Policy, a framework designed to make it easier for mission-driven founders to build, scale, and stay accountable. She brings academic grounding to her work with degrees in English and International Studies; an MBA from QSBT, USA; and a postgraduate degree in Public Leadership and Policy. She is a certified management consultant (CMC), a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants Nigeria (FIMC), a member of the Nigerian National Advisory Board for Impact Investing (NABII), and part of the Nigeria ESO Collaborative Action Group.

Her work has been recognized across Africa. She received the MMEF Award for Youth Advocacy 2022, the Ooni of Ife Imperial Majesty Gold Award 2022, the ELOY Award for Social Enterprise 2022, and won the Lagos State Digital Activation for Inclusivity in 2022. She was named a TEDx Oluyole Inspiring Woman in Social Development in 2023, earned the Hexa Media Award for Social Enterprise of the Year in 2024, and was nominated for the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Award for Social Impact in 2025. She is also a ONE Honoree with the Office of the Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2025 and a nominee for The Future Africa Award Prize for Young Person of the Year 2025.